An Oregon Democrat is on board with it…

SALEM, Ore. (AP) _ The Oregon Senate has approved a bill allowing some women convicted of misdemeanor prostitution to be eligible for a state teaching license.

Supporter Sen. Margaret Carter, a Portland Democrat, invoked the gospel of redemption and forgiveness, and the sins of judgment.

Carter had pushed a similar bill last session but withdrew it when it appeared it would not pass the then-Republican-run House. Some Democrats had problems with it as well.

I’m a bit torn on this.

On one hand, I’m one of those radicals whose not quite so certain that prostitution should be illegal.  I’m all for women doing with their bodies what they want (though I don’t believe that extends to murdering their offspring who just happen to reside within their bodies), so if a woman wants to have sex with a man for money...so be it.  Porn stars are already doing it legally all over the country, and strippers may as well be doing it.  These things haven’t caused society to cave in.

On the flip side, seems to me that parents and students (you know, the actual “customers” in the education system) should have a right to dictate certain standards when it comes to educators.  Someone who has in the past knowingly broke the law (like it or not, prostitution is illegal right now) isn’t exactly the best role model for a classroom full of kids.  And I could certainly understand many parents being leery of an ex-hooker teaching their kids.

Ultimately, this sort of problem would be solved by school vouchers/school choice.  Give the parents the power to choose what school their kids go to, private or public, and then leave these sort of hiring decisions up to the individual school administrators. If a school principle wants to take a chance on hiring an ex-hooker so be it.  If all his students go to another school that’s the consequences of his actions.

This would be the optimal solution, but instead we’re forced into a “one size fits all” public school system.  Not because that’s what is best for the kids, but because that’s what is best for the teacher’s unions and the politicians who like to exert control over every minute aspect of our lives.